Government says Pro-Hezbollah protesters threaten national security, in security agencies’ sights

Protesters who demonstrated support for terrorist group Hezbollah and its slain leaders threaten national security and “will draw” the attention of agencies, the Government has declared.

As Opposition Leader Peter Dutton led calls for the Government and police to charge and deport terrorist sympathisers following protests in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, Labor has voiced its strong condemnation.

Some demonstrators waved the Hezbollah flag, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia, while many held placards mourning the death of Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel in a Beirut air strike at the weekend.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has warned anyone seeking to incite “discord” in Australia risked having their visas cancelled, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the protests were “worrying”.

“We do not want people to bring radical ideologies and conflict here. Our multiculturalism and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted and it’s important that we continue to stress that that is the case as we go forward as well,” Mr Albanese said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned “any indication of support for a terrorist organisation”.

“It not only threatens national security, but fuels fear and division in our communities. All of us – including every political leader – must stand together to reject terrorism and extremism,” she said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was forceful in his language when asked during a press conference.

“I think that any indication of support for a terrorist organisation is completely and utterly unacceptable, whether it’s Hamas or Hezbollah,” he said.

“These are listed terrorist organisations, and I think any support for a terrorist organisation should and will immediately draw the attention of our security agencies.

“Now, there is a higher level of scrutiny for people who are on a visa, and the Home Affairs Minister has made it really clear from day one that he will consider refusing and cancelling visas of anyone who seeks to invite discord in Australia.

The Opposition Leader said it was “completely unacceptable” that no arrests or visa cancellations had happened since the protests, and compared the placards to glorifying Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden.

“There is an absolute outrage in relation to the glorification of a terrorist leader, which surely must be against the Australian law; and if it’s not, the Parliament should be recalled to pass a law that prohibits that from happening,” Mr Dutton said.

“Now, of course, the laws do provide for an offence in that regard, and the law should be enforced. I find it completely unacceptable that the Government wouldn’t be arresting people already, or cancelling visas of people who are glorifying Hezbollah and Hamas and others. They have no place in our country.”

The Australian Federal Police has said displaying a prohibited symbol on its own does not meet the threshold of a Commonwealth offence.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said state police were working with the Australian Federal Police to “hold to account” protesters who displayed the Hezbollah flag at the Melbourne rally.

Speaking about the protesters who held photos of Nasrallah, Mr Dutton said there would been outrage if photos of Hitler or bin Laden had been shown.

“Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organisation in our country. If we’ve got people here who think that that organisation is okay, and they’re saddened by the death of this terrorist, if they’re on a visa, they should be deported because if we knew about that when they made their visa application, they wouldn’t get a visa to come here in the first place,” he said.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie also called on the Albanese Government to be “grown-ups” and show “some goddamn courage” by expelling visa holders who waved Hezbollah flags or held Nasrallah portraits.

“Turning a blind eye to this stuff, and not holding people responsible, and making sure actions are taken against them, this will continue,” Senator Lambie warned.

“They (the government) want a peaceful country. I suggest they start being grown-ups. They start showing that they’re a leader, and they start showing goddamn courage in this country, and saying, you don’t belong here, you’re getting out, and get them out of here.”

Foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said there was an onus on police to carry out “thorough investigations”, which he hoped would lead to criminal charges.

“The government needs not to just share words in relation to this, but demonstrate actions, and do so swiftly,” Senator Birmingham said.

Liberal senator Dave Sharma, the former ambassador to Israel, said even if the latest protest activity wasn’t unlawful, it “certainly” crossed a moral and ethical line.

“If things are said that cross the line, beyond free speech and incitement and glorification of terrorism, then law enforcement should be acting,” he said.